keep the vending machine too, just in
case," remembered Plassman.
MVVC installed an Avanti Mar-
kets micro market and waited. After
the frst day, the company was pleased
with the market and told them the
vending machines could go. "It was
amazing," said Plassman.
Part of the appeal was the
increased selections. For example,
the location had 30 beverage options
with the vending machines. With a
micro market, that went up to 74
different options. "People just loved
it," Plassman said. He realized just
how much employees and custom-
ers enjoyed the concept, which has
led to the company's current micro
market focus. Roughly 70 percent of
the company's revenue is driven by
the micro market segment, with the
rest being vending. "I would rather
do micro markets," he admitted,
Having the theft
conversation
The question of theft
and shrinkage comes up
at each potential micro
market pitch and Todd
Plassman, president of
Maumee Valley Vending
in Defance, OH, under-
stands why. After all, he
initially thought theft
would be rampant in the
micro market concept,
too. It has proven not to
be, however. "Theft is
not an issue whatsoev-
er," said Plassman. Part
of the reason it isn't
an issue is the 24-hour
monitoring by cameras
and a special partner-
ship MVVC has with a
local college.
INTERNSHIP LEADS
TO PARTNERSHIP
Students in the criminal
justice program at a
local college review
MVVC's micro market
camera footage with an
eye out for theft. The
footage can be viewed
remotely for up to two
months, and in that
time any issues are
brought to the atten-
tion of Plassman. "You
just have to prove to
people the cameras
aren't just for show,"
said Plassman. Usually
one example will fx any
problem, if there is one.
The partnership has
been a huge success.
The students get real
world examples to study
as they are taught tech-
niques to identify theft,
suspicious behavior, etc.
and MVVC gets notifed
when someone has been
identifed stealing. Over-
all though, Plassman
says theft has not been
the issue he thought it
would be. "Most people
play by the rules," said
Plassman, "just like at
convenience stores and
other retailers."
The culinary
department is
encouraged to
constantly find new
ways to present
healthy options.
42 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com June/July 2016
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